UPDATE
Thank you Everyone in this thread.
I replaced ignition control module, packing it with fresh conductive grease, and the car went from firing on 6 to 7 plugs. This one replacement also fixed the tachometer problem and the check engine light. AGAIN THANK YOU!!!
I then swapped out the rear coil pack. I noted the dead terminal was also the hottest, being I just drove the car. The heat burned my hand it was so hot and I have thus concluded manifold heat was the problem. The coil pack died of an overdose of heat.
While the rear pack was out, I took some aluminum sheet metal about 5" x 5" and fabricated a heat shield that mounts on the DIS bracket not the manifold bolts. The new shield was polished to a mirror-finish so it should work nicely as a heat shield. I bent the aluminum on a 4" diameter pipe to form a smooth 90 degree curve. The shield now fits perfectly over the manifold by cylinder #1 and leaves about 1/4" clearance around everything.
The car now fires on all 8 plugs, the idle is perfect, the tachometer is perfect, the car is faster, and I'll wager my gas mileage is better too. After taking her up to speed and getting her good and hot, on my test run, I checked the shield and it was hot but I did not burn my hand and the rear coil pack was very warm but only a fraction of the temperature it was on the old damaged unit.
I hereby declare the project a complete success and I must declare the membership of this forum a group of genuine gentlemen and scholars.
Again to all of you, THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!! Be well in all your endeavors.
Delray Dude I will look into finding a 93-94 Ranger header. That header idea sounds absolutely inspired. I may very well weld a coupling on it for the EGR tube anyway because Pennsylvania laws are a bit touchy with visual emissions inspections. The EGR does not necessarily have to work but it best look like it does here in PA.
Once again you guys are mountain of help.
Thank you Everyone in this thread.
I replaced ignition control module, packing it with fresh conductive grease, and the car went from firing on 6 to 7 plugs. This one replacement also fixed the tachometer problem and the check engine light. AGAIN THANK YOU!!!
I then swapped out the rear coil pack. I noted the dead terminal was also the hottest, being I just drove the car. The heat burned my hand it was so hot and I have thus concluded manifold heat was the problem. The coil pack died of an overdose of heat.
While the rear pack was out, I took some aluminum sheet metal about 5" x 5" and fabricated a heat shield that mounts on the DIS bracket not the manifold bolts. The new shield was polished to a mirror-finish so it should work nicely as a heat shield. I bent the aluminum on a 4" diameter pipe to form a smooth 90 degree curve. The shield now fits perfectly over the manifold by cylinder #1 and leaves about 1/4" clearance around everything.
The car now fires on all 8 plugs, the idle is perfect, the tachometer is perfect, the car is faster, and I'll wager my gas mileage is better too. After taking her up to speed and getting her good and hot, on my test run, I checked the shield and it was hot but I did not burn my hand and the rear coil pack was very warm but only a fraction of the temperature it was on the old damaged unit.
I hereby declare the project a complete success and I must declare the membership of this forum a group of genuine gentlemen and scholars.
Again to all of you, THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!! Be well in all your endeavors.
Delray Dude I will look into finding a 93-94 Ranger header. That header idea sounds absolutely inspired. I may very well weld a coupling on it for the EGR tube anyway because Pennsylvania laws are a bit touchy with visual emissions inspections. The EGR does not necessarily have to work but it best look like it does here in PA.
Once again you guys are mountain of help.